Sam Chandler has been named the new sports editor of The Valley Times-News and its affiliated publications. Chandler began work in Lanett on Jan. 2, and will move to the Valley area in the coming weeks.

Chandler, a native of St. Petersburg, Fla., graduated in May from Samford University and has spent the past six months as the assistant sports editor at Starnes Publishing in Birmingham. Prior to his graduation, he worked at Starnes as a part-time staff writer and served as the managing editor of his campus newspaper, The Samford Crimson.

“Sam is an extremely talented young journalist,” said Baker Ellis, publisher of The Valley Times-News. “He will provide an immediate and noticeable impact on our local sports coverage, both in print and online. He is mature beyond his years and has earned the chance to step into the sports editor role through much hard work and exceptional professionalism.”

Chandler’s work has appeared in The Washington Post and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, among other publications. In February 2017, he was named the College Sportswriter of the Year at the Southeast Journalism Conference.

His writing also has been recognized by the Alabama Press Association.

“I am incredibly excited to begin this new chapter of my career as sports editor of The Valley Times-News,” Chandler said. “Working for a daily newspaper has been a dream of mine for quite some time. I look forward to embracing this opportunity and providing the Greater Valley Area with unparalleled local sports coverage.”